My Place in Space

by Robin Hirst

Henry tells the bus driver exactly where he lives, positioning himself precisely in the universe.

Genres: Picture Books, Space, Science

Hardcover

First published January 1, 1990

Reviews

[Rylie · Rating 5 out of 5]

My Place In Space begins with Henry and his sister Rosie boarding a bus, when asked where they are going the young boy responds with “home.” The bus driver begins to questions if they know where their home is. Henry eagerly gives the bus driver an in depth description of where exactly they live. He begins by telling the bus driver all about the planets, hemisphere, the solar system and beyond! This book is great for teaching children about the terms and components that make up our solar system. The story takes place in limited person point of view. I think this really helps to emphasize the informational text aspect. You are strictly receiving information rather than understanding the emotions and feelings of the characters. The text does give some distinction of how the bus driver is feeling by giving cues like saying his face was red and shaking, this gives the reader the idea that he is angry. The setting uses what I believe is an asteroid or some floating object to show the different planets and star systems. This is a story within a story setting, Henry is telling the bus driver an in depth description of exactly where he lives.

The illustrations in this book are used to show exactly how big our solar system is. The illustrations are used to help teach kids about all of the terms having to do with space as well as distance. The illustrations also provide tones of entertainment; the pictures are constantly changing between pages. Writing on buildings, buses and characters were changing with every new introduction of information. I really enjoyed reading this book. I thought that the illustrations added a fun and quirky feel to the heavy informational aspect. This is definitely a book that I would incorporate into my classroom.

[Diane · Rating 3 out of 5]

When the bus driver asks him where he lives, Henry Wilson proceeds to tell him just exactly where he lives: Gumbridge, Australia, in the Southern Hemisphere on planet Earth in the solar system of a solar neighborhood in Orion arm of the Milky Way which is part of a local group of galaxies in the Virgo Supercluster in the universe.

[Sandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A bus driver questions a young boy as to if he really knows where he lives and boy, does he. This book has great pictures and is a clever and entertaining way to explain to kids where we live within the universe and beyond.

[Newbury Homeschool · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book to explain where we live in the universe. Older book so does explain Pluto as the 9th planet. Kids enjoyed it.

[Grace Karney · Rating 3 out of 5]

A bus driver asks a young boy and his sister if they know where they live, and the young boy replies with “home.” The bus driver begins mocking the boy, and the boy proceeds to give the driver his exact location, from the hemisphere to the planet to the solar system and beyond. The pictures in the book serve to give children an idea of how enormous the universe is. The distances in space are so large that they cannot be measured the same way we measure distance on earth. This may be a difficult idea for students to grasp at first, but they will better understand with the help of this book. It appeals to the imagination while introducing kids to astronomy. It would be a great tool to utilize in a primary grade classroom during a science lesson.

[Michael Koreis · Rating 2 out of 5]

I thought this was a really cool book for kids. One thing I have noticed is that kids love science. This book is about a brother and sister who get on the bus to go home. This book would be a great book to help teach kids about all of the terms having to do with space as well as distance, how to find addresses, and what the planets are. The illustrations also provide tons of entertainment because of the level of detail. this would definitely be a book I would put in my classroom.

[Judy · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.8

This appeals to kids' imaginations. I appreciate that the story tackles the subject of space using humor and the point of view of one child in one small town in Australia. Sometimes we read this story several times in one sitting. (It's hard to do justice to the art when considering our place in space - the little alien is a favorite.)

[Brooke]

This book is a great story about a brother and sister just wanting to go home. The children state their address and more to the bus driver. This book would be a great spin off for lessons about distance, addresses, and even space. Lots of different ideas for teaching with this book.

[Paula · Rating 3 out of 5]

Henry tells the bus driver exactly where he lives, positioning himself precisely in the universe.

[Shaan]

This fucking book sucks